Professor Benjamin Tan is the Head of School (Nursing) in the Faculty of Health, providing leadership in capacity building in learning and teaching, scholarship, and research and research training in the School spanning six locations across Australia. He is an Adjunct Professor at The Hong Kong Polytechnic University and Southwest Medical University Hospital. Benjamin currently leads the Charles Darwin Centre for Evidence-Based Practice and the Mental Health and Supportive Care Research Group at CDU Faculty of Health.

Benjamin’s interdisciplinary programs of research focus on empirical development and evaluation of evidence-based supportive care interventions for cancer symptom management. He and his interdisciplinary research team have developed and sustained intensive linkages with collaborators in Australia, HKSAR, Singapore, the UK, and China Mainland, which have so far resulted in over 120 high-quality publications in peer-reviewed journals and conference presentations, as well as more than 28 funded projects with a total award exceeding AUD$2.9 million.

Benjamin's research has been adopted in numerous international and national practice guidelines, including those developed by the European Society for Medical Oncology, the American College of Chest Physicians, Cancer Care Ontario, the UK National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, the US Department of Veterans Affairs/Department of Defense, China Anti-Cancer Association, and the US Council of Colleges of Acupuncture and Oriental Medicine.

Professor Benjamin Tan would be willing to accept PhD and Master by Research students in areas of cancer symptom management, integrative medicine, and evidence-based practice for chronic disease management.

Selected Research Awards (as Lead Chief Investigator or Chief Investigator)

2023-2027. Clinical effects and cost-effectiveness of an evidence-based Tai chi intervention for breast cancer symptom management: A Phase III RCT. DES Doctoral Fellowship with Tuition Waiver (Supervisor-Initiated), AUD$≈240,000.00

2023-2025. Exploring Approaches to clinical incident analysis within healthcare: a scoping review and ethnography study. JBI Brighter Futures Grant Program, AUD$25,000.00

2023-2024. Supporting the academic success of pregnant and parenting students. HEPPP Fund allocated by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, AUD$100,000.00

2022-2026. Acupressure for the fatigue-sleep disturbance-depression symptom cluster in breast cancer: A three-arm, sham-controlled, randomized trial. CDIPS Doctoral Fellowship with Tuition Waiver (Supervisor-Initiated), AUD$≈200,000.00

2022-2024. Improving success and retention of undergraduate nursing students from regional and remote areas in Australia. HEPPP Fund allocated by the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, AUD$300,000.00

2021-2025. A primary care clinician-led symptom management program for breast cancer survivors. CSFP (allocated by Federal Government), AUD$193,000.00

2021-2023. An evidence-based clinical protocol of fatigue-anorexia-cachexia clustering in advanced cancer. HKPU New Recruits Grant, HKD$400,000.00

2021-2023. Behavioural activation treatment for depressive symptoms in young people with emerging or early psychosis. CSFP (allocated by Federal Government), AUD$171,000.00

2021-2023. GP and nurse-led telehealth-based intervention for improving cardiovascular health in breast cancer survivors with cardiovascular diseases. Start-Up Grant for Outstanding Future Researcher, AUD$30,000.00

2020-2022. The impact of risk perceptions on precautionary behaviours towards COVID-19 among health care workers and general population in Singapore and globally. NUS COVID-19 Research Seed Grant, SGD$100,000.00

2020-2021. Massage therapy for breast cancer symptom cluster management: A pragmatic randomised controlled trial. CDU Institute of Advanced Studies Rainmaker Scheme Grants, AUD$20,000.00

2019-2021. Acupuncture for joint symptoms in breast cancer: A randomized controlled trial. HKPU-SMUH Collaborative Research Project, HKD$101,459.00

2019-2021. Resistance inspiratory muscle training for breathlessness in lung cancer patients. HKPU-SMUH Collaborative Research Project, HKD$105,657.00

2018-2022. Somatic acupressure for breast cancer symptom cluster. CDU Institute of Advanced Studies Rainmaker Scheme Grants, AUD$60,000.00

2018-2021. Effects of traditional respiratory exercise on inflammatory process in COPD patients. Natural Science Foundation of Fujian Province, CNY¥100,000.00

2015-2017. Medicated food for chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal mucositis: Role of TLR4/NF-κB pathway. NSFC, CNY¥230,000.00

2015-2016. Doctoral research attachment program at the University of Manchester, UK. HKPU, Grant Awardee, HKD$21,250.00

2014-2017. Ear acupressure for chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. Fully Funded Doctoral Project, HKPU School of Nursing, HKD$531,600.00

2014-2016. Medicated food for chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal mucositis: Role of the “ERK/MAPK” pathway. NSFC, CNY¥160,000.00

2012-2016. Traditional six-character respiratory exercise for COPD management: Role of PPARγ and PGC-1α. NSFC, CNY¥240,000.00

2011-2014. Food therapy for chemotherapy-induced gastrointestinal mucositis. Fujian Science and Technology Department Fund, CNY¥30,000.00

Research Degree Supervision at CDU

PhD Supervision

2023-Ongoing. PhD. Effective clinical leadership for nurses and midwives within a rural context. Principal Supervisor

2023-Ongoing. PhD. Family psychoeducational intervention to improve antidepressant adherence in major depressive disorder. Principal Supervisor

2023-Ongoing. Clinical effects and cost-effectiveness of Tai chi for breast cancer symptom management: A Phase III RCT. DES Award. Associate Supervisor

2022-Ongoing. PhD. Acupressure for the fatigue-sleep disturbance-depression symptom cluster in breast cancer survivors. CDIPS Award. Principal Supervisor

2021-Ongoing. PhD. Breathing exercise for chronic pain management in breast cancer. Australian Government RTP Award. Principal Supervisor

2020-Ongoing. PhD. Ghanaian midwives’ experiences of accessing pre-eclampsia management CPD. Australian Government RTP Award. Principal Supervisor

2022-2023. PhD. Kegel, pelvic floor muscle strength and resistance training for women with stress urinary incontinence. Acting Principal Supervisor (Completed)

2019-2023. PhD. Traditional exercise program for breast cancer symptom cluster management. Australian Government RTP Award. Principal Supervisor (Completed)

Research Masters & UG Hons Supervision

2023-Ongoing. MRes. Settlement outcomes for African migrants in the Northern Territory. Associate Supervisor

2022. MPH. Attitudes and perceptions on advance care planning among Chinese speaking older Australians living in Sydney. Associate Supervisor (Completed)

2022. BN-Hons. Music therapy for alleviating anxiety and depression in breast cancer survivors. Principal Supervisor (Completed)

2022. BN-Hons. Australian registered nurses’ roles in patient-centred care in long-term care facilities. Associate Supervisor (Completed)